Well, Congress ain't gonna like them apples. But hey, I can already sense the feeding frenzy this news will cause over at MSNBC headquarters.

waetherman
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2014-03-04T20:31:30Z —
#3

While this will certainly change the way Metro police in DC handle marijuana possession (now you'll get a beating and a ticket, instead of a beating and thrown in jail), it's worth noting that DC is covered with Federal property that is under the jurisdiction of Federal law enforcement including the FBI, Secret Service, US Marshals, Smithsonian Police, US Park Police and Capitol Hill Police (to name just a few that come to mind). If residents of the District are busted by any of them on Federal property, it's a felony just like it's always been.

EDIT: sorry - it's not just on Federal property, it's by a Federal agent. I guess there's a question about jurisdiction for some of the above agencies, but not all.

NashRambler
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2014-03-04T20:40:42Z —
#4

Crap, he's right. I didn't think of that major loophole.

relawson
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2014-03-04T20:49:43Z —
#5

If they take baby steps like this toward legalization, it won't look like they were actually wrong to make it illegal in the first place.

uniqueusername
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2014-03-04T21:34:11Z —
#6

Based on this info, maybe decriminalization is purely a budgetary move.

deedub
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2014-03-04T21:42:58Z —
#7

The Council should have just gone with straight up legalization. $25/oz is less than sales tax.

FunkDaddy
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2014-03-04T21:58:49Z —
#8

Double jump, if they are playing budgetary checkers. Reduced jail/court/enforcement costs, the big $, plus a tiny revenue stream via the tiny fine that is routed through an existing system.

Feds need to get on board, that's 2 states & a district. Who is next? Whaddup NYC, thought you thought you were cool?

logruszed
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2014-03-04T22:06:40Z —
#9

The penalty for crack is still serving as mayor, though.

jamesnsc
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2014-03-04T22:24:26Z —
#10

This is great and all, but its still a big sick bird on the federal level. What that means is, if you get a "ticket" in DC, the feds can still charge you and send you to jail. I know this because I once got a $50 ticket in Denver for just such an occasion. The next time I had a "run in" with the feds (crossing the border) they were using the threat of charging me under federal law for getting that ticket almost 15 years ago.

These are all small gains. Until its decriminalized on the federal level, its still business as usual.

Brainspore
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2014-03-04T22:47:33Z —
#11

…$25 for possession of up to an ounce of marijuana.

But you still get to keep the weed after you pay the fine, right??

scratcheee
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2014-03-04T23:59:02Z —
#12

I went to a Roger Waters concert in D.C. a while back ("The Wall",) and some guy near me was disappointed when he saw other people lighting up. "Dammit, I didn't bring anything to smoke because I figured...you know, nation's capital and all." Maybe next time...

Woodchuck45
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2014-03-05T00:22:36Z —
#13

Although as a happy consequence this probably will make for fewer embarrassing incidents involving the offspring of politicians, this isn't for them, tourists, or rich kids driving in from the burbs (remember, selling is still illegal!), it's about ending the practice of police harassment under the pretense of possession and ensuring poor kids can still be eligible for things like federal loans despite getting caught with a joint as a teen

billstewart
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2014-03-05T00:48:01Z —
#14

Re: Feeding frenzy at MSNBC headquartersDoritos? Pizza?

I'm waiting to see the storm of political correctness coming from Fox News about how terrible this will be For The Children.

Engineer
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2014-03-05T02:20:55Z —
#15

logruszed:

The penalty for crack is still serving as mayor, though.

Not only that, now they also deport you to Toronto.

NickyG
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2014-03-05T02:50:43Z —
#16

Bitch set me up! Heh, this episode actually came up in conversation over dinner just tonight.

Marion Shepilov Barry, Jr. (March 6, 1936 – November 23, 2014) was an American politician who served as the second Mayor of the District of Columbia from 1979 to 1991, and again as the fourth mayor from 1995 to 1999. A Democrat, Barry had served three tenures on the Council of the District of Columbia, representing as an at-large member from 1975 to 1979 and in Ward 8 from 1993 to 1995, and again from 2005 to 2014. In the 1960s he was involved in the African-American Civil Rights Movement, first ...

gjbloom
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2014-03-05T03:14:33Z —
#17

Because they failed to legalize it, the sellers are still the same criminals. Decriminalization may increase sales, resulting in even more money going toward violence in Mexico.

mmmmichael
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2014-03-05T03:33:49Z —
#18

In your list, don't forget one of the leaders in marijuana decriminalization: Ann Arbor!
en.wikipedia.org

During the last 40 years, the college town of Ann Arbor, Michigan has enacted some of the most lenient laws on marijuana possession in the United States. These include measures approved in a 1972 city-council ordinance, a 1974 voter referendum making possession of small amounts of the substance merely a civil infraction subject to a small fine, and a 2004 referendum on the use of medical marijuana. Since state law takes precedence over municipal law, the far-stricter state marijuana laws are stil...

Sqyntz
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2014-03-05T05:05:16Z —
#19

something tells me a bunch of DC cops will never "get the memo"

earnestinebrown
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2014-03-05T15:35:22Z —
#20

Well, I'm glad to see something go in the right direction. This false puritanism has to go yesterday.